Five Thousand Years
Hanfu, Kimono, and Hidden Messages in Game of Thrones’ Costume Design
It's been hiding in plain sight all this time! According to Game of Thrones’ costume designer Michele Clapton, even though the show itself is a fantasy work, she took inspiration for costume designs from all over the world, including...
Five Thousand Years
Top 4 Talented Women: Female Scholars in Chinese History
Ancient Chinese women are not only beautiful, but also talented. You might have heard about the list of the most beautiful women in history, but do you know who are the most talented women in Chinese history? Meet the four most...
Five Thousand Years
How to Wear Hanfu: Sheer Fabric Hanfu (豎領對襟紗衫) from the Ming Dynasty
In ancient China, it was quite common for men to be bare-chested during the summer, but of course this was not the case for ladies. So they would wear less layers and sheer fabric hanfu inside of their homes. This video will give you an...
Five Thousand Years
Why Do People Celebrate the Moon Festival (aka Mid-Autumn Festival)
It's almost the Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival. It's one of the biggest holidays in China and the surrounding countries. But do you know why people celebrate this day? And where did it get its name from? In today’s...
Five Thousand Years
How to Wear Hanfu: A Brief History on Hanfu Vests - Bijia (比甲)
In ancient China, there’s a history of people wearing vests to keep warm during seasonal changes. It was believed that hanfu vest was first developed around 2,000 years ago and later doubled as a fashion statement as time went on. Hanfu...
Five Thousand Years
9 Chinese Hacks to Cool Down Naturally in Summer
The first modern electrical air conditioning unit was not invented until 1902. Have you ever wondered how ancient people survived summer heat with no refrigerators, no electric fans, and no air conditioners? Here are 9 brilliant summer...
Five Thousand Years
How to Wear Hanfu: Origin of Mandarin Collar Shuling (豎領 立領)
What is the true origin of the mandarin collar? Most people think the standing collar is derived from Qing Dynasty Manchurian dress, also known as the cheongsam or qipao. It is actually originally invented and passed down from the Ming...
Five Thousand Years
How to Wear Hanfu: Jiaoling Aoqun (交領襖裙) from the Ming Dynasty
Jiaoling Aoqun (交領襖裙) or Crossed-Collar Aoqun is a typical Ming Dynasty women’s hanfu. This video will show you a step-by-step tutorial on how to wear Jiaoling Aoqun. I will also talk about each individual pieces as well as the history...
Five Thousand Years
How to Wear Hanfu: Qiyao Ruqun (齊腰襦裙) from the Tang Dynasty
There are two types of Ruqun if categorized by where the skirt is tied - one with the skirt tied above the chest, and the other one is tied on the waist. During the Tang Dynasty, other than the iconic Qixiong Ruqun, a variety of Qiyao or...
Five Thousand Years
Chinese Custom how to KOWTOW, how to BOW - and when to use them
According to the book Rites of Zhou, which was written around the 2nd century BC, there are nine major types of kowtow and three major types of bowing. This video will show you the basics of Chinese greetings, such as how to kowtow, how...
Five Thousand Years
Chinese Wisdom - It’s Smart to be a Fool
There’s a famous Chinese saying 傻人有傻福 which means #FortuneFavorsFools. On this April Fool’s Day, I want to talk about why I think a foolish person is actually smart.
Brainwaves Video Anthology
Nicholas Gattis - Exploring the Sounds of Nature
Nicholas Gattis currently serves as the Director of Bands at Carmel Middle School in Charlotte, North Carolina where he teaches Band for grades 6-8, Jazz Band, and acoustic guitar. Nicholas received his BS Ed. in Music Education from...
Five Thousand Years
Virus Survival Secrets from Ancient China that Can Save Your Life!
Did you know that China has a recorded history of fending off plagues and viruses for more than 4,700 years? let's talk about what are the secrets to their survival, and what can we learn from them today.
Five Thousand Years
How to Create Ancient Chinese Hairstyles
Today’s video is about how to create hanfu hairstyles or ancient Chinese hairstyles. All you need are some hair pieces. It’s the easiest way to recreate an ancient look. Hanfu, meaning Han Chinese Clothing, or as I'd like to call it Han...
Five Thousand Years
How Accurate is Fan Bingbing’s Costume Compared to Real History
Chinese costume drama 'The Empress of China' was a huge commercial success. Fan Bingbing portrayed Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history. This drama used extravagant and revealing costumes to attract viewers, but they are...
Five Thousand Years
Disney Mulan’s Makeup Explained: Traditional Chinese Makeup
What is the marking on Mulan’s forehead? Does it mean anything? Is it accurate to history? I'm wearing Tang Dynasty style hanfu Qixiong Ruqun. Hanfu, meaning Han Chinese Clothing, or as I'd like to call it Han Couture, is what ancient...
Five Thousand Years
History and Traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Festival)
The Dragon Boat Festival is officially known as the Duanwu Festival in Chinese. Why is Duanwu Festival called the Dragon Boat Festival? Why do we celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival?
Five Thousand Years
Dos and Don'ts of Chinese Etiquette Things You Should NEVER Do According to Chinese Tradition!
I grew up with many etiquette rules in my family, and I definitely think these rules helped shape me into a better version of myself. So today I’m going to share some of these with you, from posture, Chinese table manners, chopstick...
Five Thousand Years
What Makes A Great Emperor, President, Or Leader
The 2020 US election made me think, what makes a good president or leader? I thought what better way than to learn from ancient Chinese emperors who ruled China for thousands of years and see what worked and what did not? I looked into...
Five Thousand Years
How Confucius Created Emojis
Have you ever wondered where these monkey emojis come from? And why they are covering parts of their faces? And what does it have anything to do with Chinese philosopher Confucius (孔子 Kongzi)? In this video, I’ll explain the origin of...
Five Thousand Years
How to Wear Hanfu: Quju Shenyi (曲裾深衣) from the Han Dynasty
Quju Shenyi or Quju Pao (曲裾深衣/曲裾袍) is a common style during the Qin (221- 206 BCE) and subsequent Han (202 BCE- 220 CE) dynasties. This video will show you a step-by-step tutorial on how to wear Quju Shenyi or Quju Pao. I will also talk...
Five Thousand Years
This 4,700-Year-Old Calendar System is Still in Use Today!
The Chinese calendar has been in use for more than 4,700 years. And it incorporates the Chinese zodiac, the Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, Chinese astrology and much more. According to this system, this year 2020 is the year gengzi and...
Five Thousand Years
The Tao of Doing Business: Chinese Business Ethics
In today’s video, let’s take a look at how to do business according to ancient Chinese wisdom. And let’s learn from the wealthiest man from Chinese history on how he managed his wealth.
Five Thousand Years
How to Wear Hanfu: Songku (宋褲) from the Song Dynasty
Songku (宋褲) and Beizi (褙子) are typical Song Dynasty women’s hanfu garments. This video will show you a step-by-step tutorial on how to wear Songku and Beizi. I will also talk about each individual pieces as well as the history behind...